Tottenham farewell the Lane in style
Rooney gamble backfires
Tottenham fans flooded on to the field after a 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the final game at White Hart Lane secured second place in the Premier League and the team’s highest finish in 54 years.
The final goal at the 118-year-old stadium came from Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney, but Victor Wanyama and Harry Kane had already scored to ensure it was a joyful send-off by the hosts.
‘‘What a way to finish,’’ Kane said.
‘‘We’re disappointed after losing out on the title again but we’re growing and getting better. Third (in 2016), second [this year] and hopefully next season we’ll be number one.’’
After a season at Wembley, the North London club is due back at White Hart Lane for the start of the 2018-19 season.
For United, the loss left Jose Mourinho’s side relying on winning the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League.
Earlier Liverpool kept their topfour destiny in their own hands as England football captain Wayne Rooney blew almost $1 million in a two-hour gambling spree at a casino, according to English news reports.
The Times reported that the Manchester United skipper lost £500,000 (NZ$939,000) on the roulette and blackjack tables at the Manchester 235 casino after United’s Europa League home win over FC Rostov on March 16.
The Times report stated onlookers said Rooney, 31, arrived at midnight and played until 2am while drinking beer. His wife, Coleen and two sons, were away at the time. ‘‘He appeared to be chasing his losses on the roulette wheel, placing large bets on single numbers and growing increasingly
Philippe Coutinho’s double earned them a 4-0 victory at West Ham United, moving them back above Manchester City into third place.
Arsenal’s late surge had put Juergen Klopp’s side under grumpy as he kept losing,’’ the report said.
One of those present told the Sun on Sunday newspaper: ‘‘Wayne was being extremely reckless, laying down chips which amounted to massive bets . . . He was gambling a lot on red when he was playing roulette - which seemed appropriate - and was putting longshot bets on solo numbers. He kept losing but that just prompted him to bet more.’’
The Times said Rooney, who is the face of the club’s poker app, had a history of gambling.
‘‘In his autobiography he wrote that during one year early in his career he lost £50,000 [NZ$94,000] and Coleen, 31, ‘‘was furious’’.
immense pressure but they responded in style and will finish in the top four if they beat relegated Middlesbrough at Anfield on the final day of the season next Monday (NZ time).
Anything other than a victory would have left Liverpool relying on other results going their way but once Daniel Sturridge put them ahead in the 35th minute they were relatively comfortable. Coutinho struck twice in the space of four minutes midway through the second half and Divock Origi rubbed salt into West Ham’s wounds as the visitors ran riot.
Liverpool have 73 points with one match left, one ahead of Man City and four more than Arsenal who both have two games left to play.
At the other end of the table Hull City were relegated back to the Championship after being humbled 4-0 by Crystal Palace.
Wilfried Zaha got Palace off to a flying start with a goal in the third minute before Christian Benteke gave Palace a two-goal cushion before halftime when he headed home.
Palace, with Luka Milivojevic adding an 85th-minute penalty and substitute Patrick van Aanholt completing the rout in stoppage time, climbed to 13th on 41 points leaving Hull in 18th with 34, four adrift of 17th-placed Swansea with one match remaining.